2 workers crushed to death at Bahrain construction site

Manama, August 8, 2014

An investigation has been launched into a worksite accident in Bahrain in which two labourers were crushed to death.

Work has also been halted at Al Kobaisi Company in Hidd's industrial area, where a cement wall collapsed on top of Bangladeshis Younus Kamal Uddin, 37, and Billal Hossain Mia, 32, after a crane crashed into it, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

However, it was unclear who was operating the machine.

Labour Minister Jameel Humaidan and Public Prosecution officials visited the site yesterday.

"We will prepare a special report on the incident, including its causes and violations, and identify the perpetrators," said Humaidan in a statement.

"We will send this report to the Public Prosecutor to complete legal procedures applicable in such unfortunate worksite accidents."

He said he has ordered ministry inspectors and trade unions to intensify their visits to construction sites to ensure companies abide by safety regulations.

"We urge workers to be cautious at worksites, especially when operating heavy weight machines, which could be a threat to their safety," he said.

"There is a need to analyse the cause of fatal accidents at worksites to find permanent solutions to avoid them in future.

"Workers should be made aware and trained on assessing dangers," Humaidan said.

"The ministry launched an investigation immediately after receiving information of the death of the workers which was a result of a large piece of concrete block falling on them," he added.

"We dispatched a unit to investigate the accident."

According to the Labour Market Regularity Authority, Mia was working for Isa Ali Isa Mahdi as a salesman but his employment visa was not valid, while Uddin's invalid visa stated he worked at Artal Construction.

This means both men were living and working in Bahrain illegally. Their bodies have been taken to the Salmaniya Medical Complex morgue and will be repatriated after the completion of legal formalities. - TradeArabia News Service